Chapter 18

They looked at each other.

In this matter, Yan Lei would never lose. After all, he was a man who had been on the battlefield.

He looked back at Qiao Wei: "What do you mean?"

Qiao Wei's fingers gently stroked the cover of the book: "I know that the theme and ideas conveyed in this book may not be completely consistent with the party and the country, and the spiritual civilization promoted by the government, and the values ​​are slightly different. Because I know this, I decided to deal with them before the atmosphere becomes more severe and these books become evidence that the two of us are not firm enough. I understand, I understand."

"I have told you all this." She said, "but... I never said these books are not good to read."

Just kidding, even banned books and pornographic books in this era will be classified as serious literature in later generations. With the high requirements for literature in this era, there is no such thing as the watery, amateurish writing that fills the Internet in later generations. The basic literary foundation of each book is solid.

It is impossible not to be attractive. It is impossible not to be good-looking.

Especially in this era of information blockage and entertainment being so single.

Yan Lei strongly felt that Qiao Wei was trying to corrupt him. He wanted to refute, but as soon as he moved his lips, Qiao Wei pressed down with a finger.

"Don't argue with me." She also leaned down, very close to him, "Just read it critically. Since you think it's wrong, you should know why it's wrong, and then you can more firmly support what you think is right."

"Just keep reading. After you finish reading, if you think there is a problem or it's wrong, then burn it. We'll burn one for every book you read."

Her face was fair and beautiful, so close to him, her breath was filled with the fragrance of peaches.

Yan Lei grabbed her finger that was pressed on his lips.

"Okay. I'll read it." He said, "But as long as I think there is a problem..."

"Don't worry." Qiao Wei didn't need his warning, "In the future, this bookshelf will never have anything that will affect your career... cough, affect your ideological progress." He

almost said the word career.

It is not appropriate to say that in this era, as it seems that people are busy and scheming for fame and fortune. Moreover, people in this era are indeed very simple, orthodox, and even noble in their thinking.

Like Yan Lei, a child from a poor rural family, he should be longing to live in a big red brick and tile house, right? He can overcome his wife's opposition and give the quota to others.

Their selflessness and altruism come from the heart.

Yan Lei let go of Qiao Wei's hand.

But he did not continue reading immediately. He calmly put on the bookmark and put the book back on the bookshelf: "Find time to read it tomorrow."

It doesn't matter whether it is good or not, it is impossible for him to put it down.

Yan Lei sat on the chair and confronted Qiao Wei, who was leaning over the table and looking at him slightly.

That's just right, otherwise it would be difficult to interrupt him. After all, he was just reading intently.

Qiao Wei said, "There are a few things I want to talk to you about."

Yan Lei spread his legs a little and sat more steadily: "You tell me."

Qiao Wei looked around, moved a square wooden stool over, and sat down next to the desk. She opened the drawer and took out a few sheets of paper.

After scanning the contents of her notes, she raised her eyes: "I have never figured out the specific income of our family."

Economy is too important. Now Qiao Wei does not go out to work, and is responsible for housework at home. Yan Lei's income is the only source of income for the family. But Qiao Wei scanned the memories left to her by the original owner, and only had a vague understanding of Yan Lei's income.

"Why do you care about this?" Yan Lei was slightly surprised.

The wife never cared much about this, because there was no one in her family, unlike some women who would use their husbands' money to support their family. She just needed enough to spend. And the household expenses he put in the box for her were always enough.

She would buy a new dress every time she went to the market, and he never said anything. She never took the initiative to ask about money.

But Qiao Wei cared a lot.

Her biological father was afraid that she would drag him down, and a phone call severed the blood relationship. The boyfriend broke up with her in a hurry. Although the last conversation was vague, it was not difficult to guess that it was all about money.

Qiao Wei, a person living in the future, is not as noble as people in this era. They all talk about ideology and the country. She is a person who has regained her life and just wants to live a good life.

How can we live without talking about money?

"How can we live within our means if we don't know the exact income of our family?" she said, "I think I spent money a bit too much before, I'm afraid you can't stand it."

Who can't stand it?

Yan Lei put his hands on his knees and sat upright: "I am a 15th-level salary, 127 yuan a month. The allowance depends on the situation..."

Qiao Wei tore off a piece of blank letter paper and gave him a pen: "Write it down, it will be easier to understand."

Yan Lei took the pen and started writing.

He didn't have a high level of education, but his handwriting was pretty good. The hand holding the gun could also control the pen accurately, and it was vigorous and powerful.

He listed them one by one for Qiao Wei. How much is the salary, what are the various allowances, how many grain coupons, oil coupons, meat coupons, cloth coupons, egg coupons, sugar coupons, and industrial coupons are there each month.

As he listed them one by one, Qiao Wei's understanding of this era became clearer and clearer.

Yan Lei listed them all, put down his pen, and held the list in front of Qiao Wei's nose with two fingers.

Qiao Wei took it and scanned it. Thinking of the few cents and one dime prices she saw at the farmers' market today, the corners of her mouth curled up: "It seems that our family is living a good life."

Yan Lei "snorted" from his nose.

"Okay, I have a rough idea in my mind." Qiao Wei asked, "How much savings do we have now?"

Yan Lei didn't expect her to even ask about the savings. He paused, but still stood up, closed the door to the west room and isolated Yan Xiang in the living room.

Then he went to the bedroom, took down the iron box on the top of the coat closet, opened the small iron lock, and took out a tin can from inside.

It was printed with "Sesame Crisp Candy".

Opening the candy cane, Yan Lei pulled out several thick rolls of money, and took out a piece of paper and handed it to Qiao Wei: "I have all the records."

Qiao Wei unfolded the paper and saw that he put money into the candy cane every month and also recorded it. After scanning it, it was basically putting money in, and there was almost no time for him to take money out.

"I can save 40 a month..." Qiao Wei pondered.

"Don't count it, I'll give you 50 a month, 25 to my hometown, and I'll use some for myself." Yan Lei's eyes were alert, "I can definitely save no less than 40 yuan a month now."

The paper was densely packed with records from a long time ago. It can be seen that he started saving money a long time ago.

Of course, his salary may not have been as high as it is now, so he saved less, but later he gradually saved more.

The latest balance is 2,372 yuan.

Taking into account the current prices, converted according to future generations, it is equivalent to...

Qiao Wei let out a long breath.

This man can really save money!

This traditional virtue of being keen on saving is simply too good. It makes people feel so safe.

Qiao Wei wanted to praise this man. Regardless of the era, regardless of gender, a person who has a strong ability to earn money to support a family and save money should be praised.

But when she looked up, she saw Yan Lei's eyes were full of vigilance.

Qiao Wei was puzzled: "What do you mean by that look?"

Yan Lei frowned: "I'm the leader now, it's impossible for me not to send money back to my hometown. Besides, they have money and bills in their hands, and they live a good life, so they won't come to cause trouble for you."

When he said this, Qiao Wei's mind was filled with irritation and disgust, just like when she first met Yan Lei, she naturally felt disgusted - these were all the remaining emotions of the original owner Qiao Weiwei.

Qiao Wei suddenly realized. It turned out to be a matter of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law conflict.

She had never experienced marriage and mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationships in her past life, but after thinking about it, she waved her hand: "That's not what I mean. You must give money to your family, I won't ask about that. No one can abandon their parents."

After she said that, Yan Lei's tense body relaxed slightly, but he was suspicious again: "Then what are you doing today?"

His wife suddenly put aside her past arrogance and asked about the details of the family income. Yan Lei directly thought of the money he had sent to his hometown.

It turned out that he didn't believe her at all. Qiao Wei was helpless: "Didn't I tell you that I just want to know how to spend within my means?"

"You make a lot." She praised him sincerely, "and you're good at saving money. That's great, you should carry it forward in the future."

Qiao Wei smiled and returned the savings account paper to Yan Lei.

Yan Lei stuffed the money back and put it away, then put the box back on top of the cabinet. He dusted off his hands and walked out to the study.

Qiao Wei shook her arms a few times and handed Yan Lei a piece of paper: "Look at this, can you find someone to make it?" There

was something drawn on the paper, and Yan Lei asked, "What is this?"

In fact, the drawing was quite good, and you could see that it was three stick-like objects fixed together in a cone shape. Then the fourth stick was hung down from the top with a rope. The fourth stick was hanging down, and a short stick was tied horizontally in the middle, which looked like a hand-held position.

Yan Lei asked: "Is it for pounding rice?"

If a stone trough was placed below, it would indeed look a bit like the thing used for pounding rice in the countryside.

"Can you understand the structure? I think my drawing is quite clear." Qiao Wei was very happy.

It was indeed quite clear. Yan Lei said: "You can also draw?"

I didn't know it before.

Of course. Because this is Qiao Wei's skill, not the original owner's skill.

Qiao Wei skipped the topic and told Yan Lei directly: "This is not for pounding rice, it's for washing clothes."

Yan Lei: "Huh?"

"Look at it like this..." Qiao Wei gestured to him, "Put a basin or bucket underneath, soak the clothes in it, and this stick is hanging, with the bottom inserted into the bucket. I hold the handle, the horizontal one, and the small horizontal stick is where I hold on. I hold here, and then use this stick to stir and rotate it in the bucket to wash the clothes clean."

This can be said to be a manual powered washing machine.

Yan Lei was skeptical: "Can this clean clothes?"

"Of course... um, it should be possible." Qiao Wei said, "In fact, this is similar to the principle of hitting clothes with a mallet. To be honest, I doubt that the way of hitting with a mallet can really clean clothes?"

"Of course it can." Yan Lei was very sure, "It has been washed like this for hundreds and thousands of years."

"Then I am sure this can also be done." Qiao Wei was also very sure.

Because the pulsator washing machine rotates like this.

And this human-powered "washing machine" was an online video that Qiao Wei saw while lying on the hospital bed.

The author of the video lives in a small town. An elderly relative of his family who lives alone made it by himself. It is said that it has been used for more than ten years, and it only takes two bowls of rice to wash a bucket of clothes.

"Why are you making such a fuss? Didn't I tell you that you don't have to worry about the clothes?"

Qiao Wei was really relieved that she had traveled to this era and met a man who could take the initiative to do the heavy work of washing clothes, instead of sitting with his legs crossed after dinner like most men.

But she had her own ideas.

"I want to redistribute the housework." Qiao Wei said, "I really hate washing dishes."

"I want to take on the laundry and you wash the dishes."